Usb type-c connector module

ABSTRACT

A USB Type-C connector module includes a circuit board, a configuration-channel (CC) chip and a plurality of conductive terminals electrically connected with the circuit board. One end of the circuit board has a tongue, which a plurality of golden-fingers are arranged at two sides thereon. A USB Type-C connector is constituted by the tongue and the golden-fingers. CC golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector are electrically connected to the CC chip for accepting a CC operation. Power golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector are electrically connected to a power control chip of an external mainboard through the plurality of conductive terminals for receiving power. Data golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector are electrically connected to a PCH of the external mainboard for transmitting data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a connector and, inparticular to a connector module.

2. Description of Prior Art

With the development of semiconductor industry, all kinds of electronicdevices such as personal computers, tablet computers and smart phonesare innovative. Because of convenience and powerful functionality, theyspread to the general public living around rapidly.

In recent years, with the popularity of universal serial bus (USB), allkinds of electronic devices are almost provided with a USB port.Therefore, users can transfer data via USB interface easily. Currentlythe most common USB interfaces are USB2.0 for supporting 480 Mbpshigh-speed transmission rate, USB3.0 for supporting 5 Gbps high-speedtransmission rate, and Micro USB providing for mobile electronic devices(i.e. smart phones).

However, with the rapid development of electronic devices, thetransmission rate of above-mentioned USB2.0, USB3.0 and Micro USB havenot been able to meet some users' needs. Thus a new generation of USB3.1specification on the market is developed, wherein the USB 3.1 Type-C forsupporting 10 Gbps transmission rate is the most attracted by users.

As USB Type-C has complex functions and with up to 24 terminals, one ormore chips have to be disposed on a mainboard if a USB Type-C connectoris provided in an electronic device. For example, a chip for detectingoutput signals through a configuration channel (CC) of a USB Type-Cconnector, a chip for switching an upper layer signals and a lower layersignals of USB Type-C, and a chip for amplifying input and outputsignals.

Hence the above chips will occupy the limited configuration space on themainboard that will make the mainboard not have inadequate space forusing. Therefore, nowadays electronic devices are minimized as amainstream. Thus how to support USB Type-C interface without wastingconfiguration space and having difficulty in circuit design when thosechips are disposed on the mainboard is the object of researchers of thepresent field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a USBType-C connector module, wherein the USB Type-C connector and chips withconfiguration channel functions can be disposed in a single connectormodule through the circuit board for configuring an external mainboardand simplifying a circuit design.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, the present inventionprovides a USB Type-C connector module including a circuit board, a CCchip and a plurality of conductive terminals electrically connected withthe circuit board. One end of the circuit board has a tongue, which aplurality of golden-fingers are arranged at two sides thereon. A USBType-C connector is constituted by the tongue and the golden-fingers.Two configuration channel (CC) golden-fingers of the USB Type-Cconnector are electrically connected with the CC chip for accepting a CCoperation. A plurality of power golden-fingers of the USB Type-Cconnector are electrically connected with a power control chip of anexternal mainboard through the conductive terminals for receiving power.A plurality of data golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector areelectrically connected to a PCH of the external mainboard through theconductive terminals for transmitting data.

Comparing with the prior art, an effect of the present invention is thatchips related to a USB Type-C interface, such as configuration channelchip, and the USB type-C connector are disposed in a single connectormodule together. As a result, when manufacturers need to add a USBType-C interface on the external mainboard, the connector module of thepresent invention can be disposed directly on the mainboard. Thus theUSB Type-C connector and its related chips can be quickly disposed onthe external mainboard at the same time.

Moreover, the present invention disposes the chips related to a USBType-C interface in the connector module so that the external mainboarddoes not have to dispose corresponding chips additionally. Therefore, acircuit design of the external mainboard could be simplified efficientlyfor reducing difficulties in circuit design of the external mainboard,and manufacturing costs will be greatly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, maybe best understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe invention, which describes a number of exemplary embodiments of theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a connector module according toa first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of a connector module according toa first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit connection diagram according to a first embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective assembly view of a connector module according toa second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit connection diagram according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit connection diagram according to a third embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit connection diagram according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective assembly view according to a connector module ofa fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents anddetailed description of the invention are described thereinafteraccording to a number of preferable embodiments, being not used to limitits executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification madeaccording to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by thepresent invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, which depict a perspective explodedview and a perspective assembly view of a first embodiment of aconnector module of the present invention. The present inventiondiscloses a USB Type-C connector module (hereinafter briefly named theconnector module 1) including a USB Type-C connector 11 and at least onechip related to a USB Type-C interface. More detailed are described asbelow.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a first embodiment of the presentinvention, the connector module 1 mainly includes a circuit board 10, aconfiguration channel (CC) chip 12 and a plurality of conductiveterminals 13. One end of the circuit board 10 has a tongue 101, which aplurality of golden-fingers 102 are arranged at an upper and a lowersides thereon. Specifically, there are twelve golden-fingers arranged atan upper side of the tongue 101, and also twelve golden-fingers arearranged at a lower side of the tongue 101. A USB Type-C interface isconstituted by the twenty-four golden-fingers and the tongue 101together. In the present invention, the connector module 1 also has aniron shell 110 covering the tongue 101 and the golden-fingers 102. Thusthe tongue 101, the golden-fingers 102 and the iron shell 110 are alltogether for constituting the USB Type-C connector 1.

Preferably, the iron shell 110 can directly cover the circuit board 10,the CC chip 12, and a plural of conductive terminals 13 that isprovided, but not limited to, as an outer shell of the connector module1.

The configuration channel chip 12 and the conductive terminals 13 areelectrically connected with the circuit board 10.

With referring to FIG. 1, the USB Type-C connector 11 is provided in anend of the circuit board 10. In the present embodiment, the USB Type-Cconnector 11 is mainly a female USB Type-C connector, and the connectormodule 1 can connect with an external male USB Type-C connector throughthe USB Type-C connector 11. Thus a transmission of data and power willbe performed through, but not limited to, the USB Type-C interface.

The CC chip 12 is electrically connected with the USB Type-C connector11 through the circuit board 10; more specifically, the CC chip 12 iselectrically connected with at least one of the golden-fingers 102 (i.e.the CC1 and CC2 golden-fingers showed in FIG. 3). Therefore, aconfiguration channel (CC) operation (as described later) of the USBinterface is provided for the connector module 1.

The conductive terminals 13 are electrically connected on the circuitboard 10 at another end away from the USB Type-C connector 11 andelectrically connected with the USB Type-C connector 11 and the CC chip12 through the circuit board 10. More specifically, one end of eachconductive terminal 13 is electrically connected to the circuit board 10and the other end is extended downwardly and protruded out of the ironshell 110. In the present embodiment, the connector module 1 iselectrically connected to a mainboard of an electronic device throughthe other ends of the plural conductive terminals 13. Hence, theelectronic device can use the USB Type-C interface to perform atransmission of data and power through the connector module 1.

Please also refer to FIG. 3, which depicts a circuit connection diagramaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the connectormodule 1 is inserted in the mainboard through the conductive terminals13 and electrically connected with a Platform Controller Hub (PCH) 2, apower control chip 22, and a system power 23 of the mainboard.

The USB Type-C connector 11 mainly has the golden-fingers 102 (i.e. 24pieces), wherein at least two configuration channels (CC) golden-fingersare included. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, two CCgolden-fingers (CC1, CC2) of the USB Type-C connector are electricallyconnected with the CC chip 12 through the circuit board 10. Thereby, theCC chip 12 can determine whether USB Type-C signals or USB 2.0 signalsof the USB Type-C connector will be outputted through the two CCgolden-fingers.

Specifically, one part of the CC chip 12 is electrically connected withthe two CC golden-fingers through the circuit board 10, and another partof the CC chip 12 is electrically connected to the PCH 2 of the mainboard through the conductive terminals 13.

As mentioned above, when the USB Type-C connector 11 is triggered by anexternal connector (not shown), the CC chip 12 will transmit a feedbacksignal of the two CC golden-fingers to the PCH 2. Thus the PCH 2 candetermine whether or not the external connector supports the USB Type-Cinterface through the feedback signal. Moreover, the PCH 2 can send acontrol command to the CC chip 12 when the external connector supportsthe USB Type-C interface. Therefore, the CC chip 12 can control the USBType-C connector and output USB Type-C signals according to the controlcommand.

On the contrary, the PCH 2 can send another control command to the CCchip 12 when the external connector does not support the USB Type-Cinterface (i.e. the external connector is disposed in a transmissionline, and another end of the transmission line is provided with a USB2.0 connector, which only supports a USB 2.0 interface). Therefore, theCC chip 12 can control the USB Type-C connector 11 for outputting USB2.0 signals according to the another control command. However, theabove-mentioned is just one embodiment, included but not limited to, ofthe present invention.

It is worth of noticing that if the external connector can support theUSB Type-C interface and one of the two CC golden-fingers is surely tobe triggered by the external connector, the CC chip 12 can output aconnection voltage (Vconn) to the other CC golden-finger of the USBType-C connecot1 11 according to the control of the PCH 2.

Specifically, the CC chip 12 is electrically connected with the powercontrol chip 22 and the PCH 2 of the mainboard through a firstconductive terminal and a second conductive terminal of the conductiveterminals 13. In the present embodiment, the CC chip 12 is an active IC,and the power control chip 22 provides power (Vcc) for an operation ofthe CC chip 12 through the first conductive terminal. Besides, the CCchip 12 electrically connects with the PCH 2 through the secondconductive terminal and accepts the control of the PCH 2. The CC chip 12receives the connection voltage provided by the power control chip 22through the first conductive terminal and outputs to the USB Type-Cconnector 11 when the USB Type-C connector is needed. The effect of theconnection voltage is common knowledge that will not be describedherein.

The golden-fingers 102 of the USB Type-C connector 11 further include aplural of power golden-fingers. In the present embodiment, the pluralpower golden-fingers are electrically connected with the conductiveterminals 13 through the circuit board 10 and received an output powerof the system power 23. Thereby, the USB Type-C connector 11 can receivea needed working voltage (VBUS) through the power control chip 22 for anexternal output.

More specifically, the system power 23 of the mainboard has a 12V poweroutput generally. The power control chip 22 receives a power output ofthe system power 23 and performs a pressure drop and then output basedon a demand of the USB Type-C connector 11. For example, in the presentembodiment, the connection voltage (Vconn) is 5V, and the workingvoltage (VBUS) is 5V.

The golden-fingers 102 of the USB Type-C connector 11 also include aplural of data golden-fingers. In the present embodiment, the datagolden-fingers are electrically connected with the conductive terminals13 through the circuit board 10 and electrically connected to the PCH 2directly through the conductive terminals 13. Thereby, the mainboard canperform a data transmitting with an external part by the USB Type-Cconnector 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the USB Type-C connector11 transmits differential data signals (D+ and D−) corresponding to theUSB 2.0 interface through the data golden-fingers and the PCH 2.

The USB Type-C connector 11 also transmits two sets of super speedtransmitter differential pair (SSTx+, SSTx−), super speed receiverdifferential pair (SSRx+, SSRx−) corresponding to the USB 3.1 interfacethrough the data golden-fingers and the PCH 2. It is worth mentioningthat the PCH 2 of the present embodiment can directly support at leastsix chipsets of USB3.1 signal port for instance; therefore, themainboard does not have to dispose a chip (usually a converter chip forconverting PCI-E signals to a single set of USB3.1 signals) additionallyfor switching signals, and two sets of USB 3.1 interface signals can beprovided directly to the connector module 1 for supporting the two setsof USB 3.1 signals (i.e. the Tx1, Rx1 (a first set of USB 3.1 signals)and Tx2, Rx2 (a second set of USB 3.1 signals) shown in FIG. 3) neededon an upper layer and a lower layer of the USB Type-C connector at thesame time.

In addition, the USB Type-C connector 11 can also transmits differentialsignals of Lane 0 (Lane 0), differential signals of Lane 1 (Lane 1),differential signals of Lane 2 (Lane 2), differential signals of Lane 3(Lane 3) and differential signals of auxiliary Lane (AUX) correspondingto the DisplayPort interface through the data golden-fingers and the PCH2. As a result, the USB Type-C connector 11 can integrate the USB 2.0signals, USB 3.1 signals and the DisplayPort signals provided by the PCH2 to form USB Type-C signals. Therefore, the connector module 1 canperform a data transmitting with an external part through the USB type-Cinterface.

In the present embodiment, the USB type-C connector 11 and the CC chip12 are disposed together in the connector module 1 for saving preciousconfiguration space of the mainboard. Thereby, a circuit design of themainboard could be simplified greatly for reducing manufacturing costs.

Please further refer to FIG. 4, which depicts a perspective assemblyview according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Thesecond embodiment of the present invention discloses another USB Type-Cconnector module (hereinafter briefly named the connector module 3)including a circuit board 30, a USB Type-C connector 31, a first chip32, a second chip 33 and a plural of conductive terminals 34.

Specifically, one end of the circuit board 30 has a tongue 301, and aplurality of golden-fingers 301 are arranged at an upper and a lowersides of the tongue 301. A USB type-C interface is constituted by thetongue 301 and the golden-fingers together. Besides, the connectormodule 3 also has an iron shell 310 covering the tongue 301 and thegolden-fingers 302. Thus, the tongue 301, the golden-fingers 302, andthe iron shell 110 are configured to form the USB Type-C connector 31.

In the present embodiment, the circuit board 30, the USB Type-Cconnector 31, the golden-fingers 302, the first chip 32, and theconductive terminals 34 are substantially the same as the circuit board10, the USB Type-C connector 11, the golden-fingers 102, the CC chip 12,and the conductive terminals 13, and that will not be described herein.

A difference between the connector module 3 of the present embodimentand the described connector module 1 is that the connector module 3further includes the second chip 32 electrically connected to thecircuit board 30. In the present embodiment, the first chip 31 isdisposed on a side of the circuit board 31 and the second chip 32 is,preferably but not limited to, disposed in another side oppositely.

The second chip 32 is electrically connected with the USB Type-Cconnector 31 (that is elecytrically connected with the golden-fingers302) through the circuit board 30, and the conductive terminals 34 areelectrically connected with the USB Type-C connector 31, the first chip32, and the second chip 33 through the circuit board 30 simultaneously.

With referring to FIG. 5, it depicts a circuit connection diagramaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, the first chip 32 is a CC chip 321 and electricallyconnected with two CC golden-fingers (CC1, CC2) of the USB Type-Cconnector 31. In the present embodiment, the CC chip 321, two CCgolden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector 31, and the plural powergolden-fingers are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thatwill not be described herein.

In the present embodiment, the plural golden-fingers 302 of the USBType-C connector 31 include a plural of data golden-fingers, wherein thedata golden-fingers includes a plurality of first data golden-fingers.The first data golden-fingers are electrically connected with the secondchip 33 through the circuit board 30, and the second chip 33 areelectrically connected to the PCH 2 of the mainboard of an externalelectronic device through the plural conductive terminals 34, whereinthe plural first data golden-fingers include an upper layergolden-fingers and a lower layer golden-fingers of the USB Type-Cconnector 31. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the first datagolden-fingers are electrically connected with the second chip 33 mainlythrough two data transmission paths separately for receiving upper layerUSB Type-C signals and lower layer USB Type-C signals outputted from thePCH 2 respectively.

Moreover, the data golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector 31 alsoinclude a plural of second data golden-fingers. The second datagolden-fingers are electrically connected with the conductive terminals34 through the circuit board 30 and directly connected to the PCH 2through the conductive terminals 34. Thus the second data golden-fingersand the PCH 2 transmit differential data signals (D+ and D−)corresponding to the USB 2.0 interface.

In particular, the second chip 33 of the present embodiment is a signalconditioning chip 331. The plural first data golden-fingers of the USBType-C connector 31 are electrically connected with the signalconditioning chip 331 through the two data transmission pathsseparately. The signal conditioning chip 331 is electrically connectedto the PCH 2 through the conductive terminals 34. Besides, the signalconditioning chip 331 and the PCH 2 transmit two set of super speedtransmitter differential pair (SSTx+, SSTx−), super speed receiverdifferential pair (SSRx+, SSRx−) corresponding to the USB 3.1 interface,and differential signals of Lane 0 (Lane 0), differential signals ofLane 1 (Lane 1), differential signals of Lane 2 (Lane 2), differentialsignals of Lane 3 (Lane 3), and differential signals of auxiliary Lane(AUX) corresponding to the DisplayPort interface.

As mentioned above, thereby, the connector module 3 can amplify theDisplayPort signals and the USB 3.1 signals outputted from the PCH 2through the signal conditioning chip 331 for solving a signalattenuation problem caused by a long distance. Similarly, the connectormodule 3 can amplify the received signals through the signalconditioning chip 331 and then output to the PCH 2. In the presentembodiment, because the USB 2.0 signals outputted from the PCH 2 do nothave a signal attenuation problem so that it does not need to beprocessed through the signal conditioning chip 331.

It is worth of noticing that the signal conditioning chip 331 iselectrically connected with the CC chip 321 through the circuit board30. Thus, a control of the CC chip 321 is accepted (the CC chip 321 iscontrolled by the PCH 2), and the CC chip 321 controls an operation ofthe signal conditioning chip 331 for amplifying output signals of thePCH 2/the USB Type-C connector 31 when needed.

In the present embodiment, the USB type-C connector 31, the CC chip 321,and the signal conditioning chip 331 are disposed in the connectormodule 3 together for saving precious configuration space of themainboard, and a circuit design of the mainboard could be simplifiedgreatly.

With referring to FIG. 6, it depicts a circuit connection diagramaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention. The thirdembodiment of the present invention discloses a further USB Type-Cconnector module (hereinafter briefly named the connector module 3′)including the circuit board 30, the USB Type-C connector 31, the firstchip 32, the second chip 33 and the plural conductive terminals 34 beingthe same as the connector module 3 of the second embodiment, and thatwill not be described again herein. A difference between the connectormodule 3′ and the connector module 3 disclosed in FIG. 5 is that thesecond chip 33 of the connector module 3′ is a signal switching chip332.

More specifically, the connector module 3′ is mainly used to connectwith a mainboard (not shown in the figure) of another electronic deviceand electrically connected to a PCH 2′, the power control chip 22, thesystem power 23, and a USB control chip 24 on the mainboard.

In the present embodiment, the PCH 2′ can support a single set of USB3.1 signal port only through a PCI-E interface. Hence the PCH 2′ shouldact in concert with the USB control chip 24 to transverse the PCI-Esignals of single port and simulate as USB 3.1 signals of multiple portsand then switch through the signal switching chip 332 for supporting twosets of USB 3.1 signals needed in an upper layer and a lower layer ofthe Type-C connector 31.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the second datagolden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector 31 are the same as those inthe embodiment in FIG. 5; the second data golden-fingers areelectrically connected with the conductive terminals 34 through thecircuit board 30 and directly connected to the PCH 2′ through theconductive terminals 34; thus differential data signals (D+ and D−)corresponding to the USB 2.0 interface are transmitted with the PCH 2′.

The plural first data golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector 31 areelectrically connected with the signal switching chip 332 through thedata transmission paths separately, and partial pinouts of the signalswitching chip 332 are electrically connected with the USB control chip24 of the mainboard through the conductive terminals 34. Therefore, twosets of super speed transmitter differential pair (SSTx+, SSTx−), superspeed receiver differential pair (SSRx+, SSRx−) corresponding to the USB3.1 interface are transmitted with the PCH 2′ through the signalswitching chip 332 and the USB control chip 24, and that is the Tx1, Rx1(first set of USB 3.1 signals), and Tx2, Rx2 (second set of USB 3.1signals) shown in FIG. 6.

Besides, other pinouts of the signal switching chip 332 are directlyelectrically connected to the PCH 2′ through the conductive terminals34; differential signals of Lane 0 (Lane 0), differential signals ofLane 1 (Lane 1), differential signals of Lane 2 (Lane 2), differentialsignals of Lane 3 (Lane 3) and differential signals of auxiliary Lane(AUX) corresponding to the DisplayPort interface are transmitted withthe PCH 2′.

It is worth noticing that one pinout of the signal switching chip 332 iselectrically connected with the configuration channel through thecircuit board 30. Thus, a control of the CC chip 321 is accepted (the CCchip 321 is controlled by the PCH 2′), and an operation of the signalswitching chip 332 is controlled by the CC chip 321 for outputting afirst set of USB 3.1 signals (Tx1, Rx1) and a second set of USB 3.1signals (Tx2, Rx2) of the USB control chip 24 for switching(corresponding to upper layer signals and lower layer signals of the USBType-C connector 31 separately) when needed.

More specifically, the PCH 2′ receives feedback signals of the two CCgolden-fingers (CC1, CC2) by the CC chip 321 and thereby determineswhether twelve golden-fingers of an upper layer or twelve golden-fingersof a lower layer are triggered by the USB Type-C connector 31. Moreover,the PCH 2′ sends a control signal to the CC chip 321 for controlling anoperation of the signal switching chip 332 according to the determiningresult and then commands the signal switching chip 332 switching one ofthe two sets of USB 3.1 signals (through one of the two datatransmission paths) and outputting to the USB Type-C connector 31.

In the present embodiment, the USB Type-C connector 31, the CC chip 321,and the signal switching chip 332 are disposed together in the connectormodule 3 for saving precious configuration space and simplifying acircuit design of the mainboard greatly.

Please further refer to FIG. 7, which depicts a circuit connectiondiagram according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 7, it discloses a further USB Type-C connector module (hereinafterbriefly named the connector module 3″). A difference between theconnector module 3″ of the present embodiment and the describedconnector module 3, 3′ is that the second chip 33 of the connectormodule 3″ is a signal conditioning/switching chip 333 that has a signalconditioning function along with a signal switching function.

In the present embodiment, the second data golden-fingers of the USBType-C connector 31 are the same as those of the embodiments in FIG. 5and FIG. 6. The second data golden-fingers are electrically connectedwith the conductive terminals 34 through the circuit board 30 anddirectly connected to the PCH 2′ through the conductive terminals 34,thus differential data signals (D+ and D−) corresponding to the USB 2.0interface are transmitted with the PCH 2′.

The first data golden-fingers of the USB Type-C connector 31 areelectrically connected with the signal conditioning/switching chip 333through the circuit board 30. More specifically, the first datagolden-fingers includes plural upper layer golden-fingers and plurallower layer golden-fingers which are connected with the signalconditioning/switching chip 333 through the two data transmission paths.

Partial pinouts of the signal conditioning/switching chip 333 aredirectly electrically connected to the PCH 2′ of the mainboard throughthe conductive terminals 34; differential signals of Lane 0 (Lane 0),differential signals of Lane 1 (Lane 1), differential signals of Lane 2(Lane 2), differential signals of Lane 3 (Lane 3) and differentialsignals of auxiliary Lane (AUX) corresponding to the DisplayPortinterface are transmitted with the PCH 2′.

Besides, other pinouts of the signal conditioning/switching chip 333 areconnected to the USB control chip 24 of the mainboard through theconductive terminals 34. Therefore, two sets of super speed transmitterdifferential pair (SSTx+, SSTx−), super speed receiver differential pair(SSRx+, SSRx−) corresponding to the USB 3.1 interface are transmittedwith the PCH 2′ through the signal conditioning/switching chip 333 andthe USB control chip 24, and that is the Tx1, Rx1 (first set of USB 3.1signals), and Tx2, Rx2 (second set of USB 3.1 signals) shown in FIG. 7.

It is worth noticing that one pinout of the signalconditioning/switching chip 333 is electrically connected with the CCchip 321 through the circuit board 30. Thus, a control of the CC chip321 is accepted (the CC chip 321 is controlled by the PCH 2′), and anoperation of the signal conditioning/switching chip 333 is controlled bythe CC chip 321 for outputting a first set of USB 3.1 signals (Tx1, Rx1)and a second set of USB 3.1 signals (Tx2, Rx2) of the USB control chip24 for switching and amplifying output signals of the PCH 2′/the USBType-C connector 31. In other words, the signal conditioning/switchingchip 333 of the present embodiment in an integration of the signalconditioning chip 331 and the signal switching chip 332, and that can beimplemented in the PCH 2′ for supporting single set of USB 3.1 signalsonly through the PCI-E interface.

In the present embodiment, the USB type-C connector 31, the CC chip 321,and the signal conditioning/switching chip 333 having a signalconditioning function along with a signal switching function aredisposed in the connector module 3 together for saving preciousconfiguration space on the mainboard thereby, and a circuit design ofthe mainboard could be simplified greatly.

In the above embodiments, the circuit board, USB Type-C connector, chipsand conductive terminals are all disposed in a single connector module.As shown in FIG. 1, 2 and FIG. 4, the lengths of those connector modules1, 3 are longer than those of standard USB Type-C connectors.Furthermore, the connector modules 1, 3 mainly dispose all theconductive terminals 13, 34 in rear ends of the whole connector modules1, 3. Therefore, if the connector modules 1, 3 of the present inventionare disposed in a mainboard, those existing holes of the USB Type-Cconnector on the mainboard cannot be adapted and need to be redesigned.

With referring to FIG. 8, it depicts a perspective assembly view of aconnector module according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 8, another USB Type-C connector (hereinafter brieflynamed the connector module 4) is disclosed. The connector module 4includes a circuit board 40, a USB Type-C connector 41, a first chip 42,and a plural of conductive terminals 43, wherein the USB Type-Cconnector 41 are constituted by a tongue 401 formed in a side of thecircuit board 40, plural golden-fingers 402 arranged at two sides of thetongue 401, and an iron shell 410. The circuit board 40, the USB Type-Cconnector 41, and the first chip 42 are the same as the circuit board10, the USB Type-C connector 11, and the CC chip 12, and that will notbe described again herein.

As mentioned above, a difference between the connector module 4 of thepresent embodiment and the connector module 1 disclosed in FIG. 1 isthat the conductive terminals 43 of the connector module 4 are composedof plural leading-edge conductive terminals 431 and trailing-edgeconductive terminals 432.

Specifically, a quantity of the leading-edge conductive terminals is 24,and the leading-edge conductive terminals are arranged in a locationclose to the leading edge of the circuit board 40. Preferably, theleading-edge conductive terminals 431 are arranged close to the tongue401 and, not limited to, between the tongue 401 and the first chip 42.It is worth noticing that the first chip 42 can be the prescribed CCchip 12, 321. Besides, the connector module 4 can also include theaforementioned second chip 33, such as the signal conditioning chip 331,the signal switching chip 332 or the signal conditioning/switching chip333 etc. In the embodiment, the leading-edge conductive terminals 431are arranged among the tongue 401, the first chip 42 and the second chip33.

A quantity of the trailing-edge conductive terminal 432 is one or atleast one, and the trailing-edge conductive terminal(s) 432 is/aredisposed in a location close to the trailing edge of the circuit board40. Preferably, the trailing-edge conductive terminal(s) 432 is disposedat another end of the circuit board 40 away from the tongue 401.

A main feature of this embodiment is that the USB Type-C connector 41are constituted by the tongue 401, the golden-fingers 402, theleading-edge conductive terminals 431, and the iron shell 410. Besides,the dimensions and the specifications of the USB Type-C connector 41 arethe same as those of standard USB Type-C connectors (not shown in thefigures). As a result, when the connector module 4 is disposed on themainboard, the existing holes of the USB Type-C connector on themainboard can be adapted directly to connect with the leading-edgeconductive terminals 431 of the connector module 4. Besides, themainboard manufacturer can providing another one or plural holescorresponding to the trailing-edge conductive terminals 432 in a rear ofthe existing holes for connecting the connector module 4 by doing aslight post-production process of the mainboard. Therefore, themanufacturing of the mainboard will be easier.

In summary, the supporting spacer of the present invention can achievethe expected objective and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.Also it is indeed novel, useful, and non-obvious to be patentable.Please examine the application carefully and grant it as a formal patentfor protecting the rights of the inventor.

What is claimed is:
 1. A USB Type-C connector module disposed on anexternal mainboard, comprising: a circuit board having a tongue extendedin one end, a plurality of golden-fingers arranged at an upper and alower sides of the tongue, where in the golden-fingers at leastincluding two configuration channel golden-fingers, a plurality of powergolden-fingers and a plurality of data golden-fingers; an iron shellcovering the tongue and the golden-fingers and being together with thetongue and the golden-fingers to form a USB Type-C connector; aconfiguration channel chip electrically connected with the circuitboard; and a plural of conductive terminals electrically connected withthe circuit board, and the conductive terminals being electricallyconnected with the USB Type-C connector and the configuration channelchip through the circuit board; wherein, the two configuration channelgolden-fingers are electrically connected with the configuration channelchip through the circuit board, and the power golden-fingers areelectrically connected with a power control chip of the externalmainboard through the conductive terminals; the data golden-fingers areelectrically connected with a Platform Controller Hub of the externalmainboard through the conductive terminals; the configuration channelchip is electrically connected with the Platform Controller Hub throughthe conductive terminals and transmits feedback signals of the twoconfiguration channel golden-fingers to the Platform Controller Hub fordetecting a USB type-C interface.
 2. The USB Type-C connector moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein the configuration channel chip is furtherconnected to the power control chip through the conductive terminals;the power control chip receives a connection voltage (Vconn) and outputsto one of the two configuration channel golden-fingers.
 3. The USBType-C connector module according to claim 2, wherein the USB Type-Cconnector transmits differential data signals (D+ and D−) correspondingto the USB 2.0 interface, two sets of super speed transmitterdifferential pair (SSTx+, SSTx−), super speed receiver differential pair(SSRx+, SSRx−) corresponding to the USB 3.1 interface, and differentialsignals of Lane 0 (Lane 0), differential signals of Lane 1 (Lane 1) ,differential signals of Lane 2 (Lane 2), differential signals of Lane 3(Lane 3) and differential signals of auxiliary Lane (AUX) correspondingto the DisplayPort interface through the data golden-fingers and thePlatform Controller Hub.
 4. The USB Type-C connector module according toclaim 1, wherein the conductive terminals include a plurality ofleading-edge conductive terminals and at least one trailing-edgeconductive terminal; a quantity of leading-edge conductive terminals is24, and the leading-edge conductive terminals are arranged between thetongue and the configuration channel chip; the trailing-edge conductiveterminal(s) is/are disposed on the circuit board at another end awayfrom the tongue.
 5. A USB Type-C connector module disposed on anexternal mainboard, comprising: a circuit board having a tongue extendedin an end, a plurality of golden-fingers arranged at an upper and alower sides of the tongue, where in the golden-fingers at leastincluding two configuration channel golden-fingers, a plurality of powergolden-fingers, a plurality of first data golden-fingers, and aplurality of second data golden-fingers; an iron shell covering thetongue and the golden-fingers and being together with the tongue and thegolden-fingers to form a USB Type-C connector; a first chip electricallyconnected with the circuit board and being electrically connected withthe USB Type-C connector through the circuit board, wherein the firstchip is a configuration channel chip; a second chip electricallyconnected with the circuit board and being electrically connected withthe USB Type-C connector through the circuit board; and a plurality ofconductive terminals electrically connected with the circuit board andbeing electrically connected with the USB Type-C connector, the firstchip and the second chip through the circuit board; wherein the twoconfiguration channel golden-fingers are electrically connected with thefirst chip, and the power golden-fingers are electrically connected witha power control chip of the external mainboard through the conductiveterminals; the first data golden-fingers are electrically connected withthe second chip through two data transmission paths separately; thesecond data golden-fingers are electrically connected with a PlatformController Hub of the external mainboard through the conductiveterminals separately, and the second chip is electrically connected withthe Platform Controller Hub through the conductive terminals; wherein,the first chip is electrically connected the Platform Controller Hubthrough the conductive terminals and transmits feedback signals of thetwo configuration channel golden-fingers to the Platform Controller Hubfor detecting a USB type-C interface.
 6. The USB Type-C connector moduleaccording to claim 5, wherein the first chip is further connected to thepower control chip through the conductive terminals; the power controlchip receives a connection voltage (Vconn) and outputs to one of the twoconfiguration channel golden-fingers.
 7. The USB Type-C connector moduleaccording to claim 6, wherein the first chip is electrically connectedwith the second chip through the circuit board and controls an operationof the second chip according to a detecting of the Platform ControllerHub.
 8. The USB Type-C connector module according to claim 7, whereinthe second chip is a signal conditioning chip connected with thePlatform Controller Hub through the conductive terminals, the first datagolden-fingers transmit two sets of super speed transmitter differentialpair (SSTx+, SSTx−), super speed receiver differential pair (SSRx+,SSRx−) corresponding to the USB 3.1 interface through the signalconditioning chip and the Platform Controller Hub, and differentialsignals of Lane 0 (Lane 0), differential signals of Lane 1 (Lane 1) ,differential signals of Lane 2 (Lane 2), differential signals of Lane 3(Lane 3) and differential signals of auxiliary Lane (AUX) correspondingto the DisplayPort interface; the second data golden-fingers transmitdifferential data signals (D+ and D−) corresponding to the USB 2.0interface directly through the conductive terminals and the PlatformController Hub.
 9. The USB Type-C connector module according to claim 7,wherein the second chip is a signal switching chip which has partialpinouts connecting with a USB control chip of the mainboard through theconductive terminals, wherein the first data golden-fingers and thePlatform Controller Hub transmit two sets of super speed transmitterdifferential pair (SSTx+, SSTx−), super speed receiver differential pair(SSRx+, SSRx−) corresponding to the USB 3.1 interface through the signalswitching chip and the USB control chip; other pinouts of the secondchip are electrically connected with the Platform Controller Hub throughthe conductive terminals and directly transmit differential signals ofLane 0 (Lane 0), differential signals of Lane 1 (Lane 1), differentialsignals of Lane 2 (Lane 2), differential signals of Lane 3 (Lane 3) anddifferential signals of auxiliary Lane (AUX) corresponding theDisplayPort interface with the Platform Controller Hub; the second datagolden-fingers directly transmit differential data signals (D+ and D−)corresponding to the USB 2.0 interface through the conductive terminalsand the Platform Controller Hub.
 10. The USB Type-C connector moduleaccording to claim 9, wherein the second chip is a signalconditioning/switching chip having a signal conditioning function alongwith a signal switching function.
 11. The USB Type-C connector moduleaccording to claim 5, wherein the first chip is disposed in a side ofthe circuit board, and the second chip is disposed in another side ofthe circuit board relative to the first chip.
 12. The USB Type-Cconnector module according to claim 5, wherein the conductive terminalsincludes a plurality of leading-edge conductive terminals and at leastone trailing-edge conductive terminals; a quantity of leading-edgeconductive terminals is 24, and the leading-edge conductive terminalsare disposed between the tongue and the configuration channel chip; thetrailing-edge conductive terminal(s) is/are disposed at another end ofthe circuit board away from the tongue.